After walking in (being ungreeted,) I put my car keys in my bag. The store owner was at the registers and her and I believe another employee were working. They also had a couple friends loitering around the store. As I was walking around shopping, I was followed by awkward silence and unkind stares. The owner then told the other employee to "check the cameras", very rude and loudly enough for me to hear. The place seemed to have very high prices for cheap material clothing and very tacky jewelry. After browsing around for a little longer my brother came in the store and we decided to leave. As I left I walked past the four or five people in the very small store, in awkward silence and more grueling stares. Nobody wished us a good day, but, as I left the store and walked down the side walk about 500 ft. away from the store, I realized the owner had followed me to my car. She rudely shouted "hey!" And I turned around, very confused. She asked me if if stole something. I looked around, still very confused and said no. She again rudely and very aggressively started talking, saying, "Okay, well we have you on camera putting something in your purse." After a few seconds I realized she was talking about my keys. I explained to her that I put my car keys in my purse immediately after entering the store. She said, again very aggressively, "Well, we're missing some jewelry." At this point I was very angry and frustrated and told her that it was my keys, she should review the footage more closely. Then I left. She has no right to follow me out of the store, especially after dark, and accuse me of stealing. The whole store was very cold and judgemental. I understand how the situation may have seemed, but I hadn't even been in the store long enough to look around, and I was accused of stealing. It was very unprofessional to aggressively confront a completely innocent shopper. Awful store. Tacky clothes and jewelry and a very very disrespectful owner. With little stores like this, business is all about building a family and gaining regular shoppers. I find it hard to believe she will have good business with such a stark attitude and willing to attack and degrade anyone who walks in. read more
